Montco Police Corporal Resigns After Being Charged In Fatal Shooting: Reports

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PA — A Montgomery County police corporal — charged in the fatal shooting of a 22-year-old man who had showed up at the wrong address last week — has voluntarily resigned.

Sean Farrell, 58, an Upper Pottsgrove Police Corporal, was charged with voluntary manslaughter in the fatal shooting of 22-year-old Glenwood Earl Pysher IV on Aug. 23 in Upper Pottsgrove Township, the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office said.

Multiple media outlets reported on Thursday that Farrell voluntarily resigned.

Upper Pottsgrove Township officials said that Farrell was suspended without pay Sept. 1 until the final disposition of the criminal charges.

On Sept. 2, Farrell voluntarily retired after 21 years as an officer, effective immediately, CBS News Philadelphia reported.

The fatal shooting occurred at 12:29 a.m. last Sunday when police responded to a Snyder Road home after the homeowner called 911 to report that someone was trying to break into the back of his home.

Pysher had been out at several area bars earlier in the evening with a number of people, celebrating a friend’s 21st birthday.

The group was driven by a designated driver to the birthday person's house, but Pysher left the home at about 11:30 p.m. to walk a half mile to a different friend’s house.

Instead, he ended up on the back patio of the wrong house, authorities said.

Detectives reviewed Cpl. Farrell’s body worn camera showed that Farrell walked down the driveway with his firearm drawn.

Pysher was standing still on the patio when Cpl. Farrell yelled, “Police, let me see your hands.” Then yelled “Hands up, hands up now, drop to the ground.”

On the video, Pysher can be seen raising his hands in the air, clearly visible, as he began walking toward Farrell.

The officer again yelled: “Drop to the ground” as Pysher continued to walk toward him with his hands raised. Cpl. Farrell again yelled “Drop to the ground,” then yelled “Stop or I’ll…” but prior to finishing that command, he fired two shots, striking Pysher twice in the chest, authorities said.

The victim was 17 to 20 feet away from Farrell when he was fatally shot.